By admin 
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite believes he still has room for improvement and explained why he is reaping the benefits of working under Sean Dyche.
Despite Everton enduring a frustrating start to the season, Branthwaite has been a standout performer for his side after being handed his first start of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers last month. Sean Dyche spoke glowingly this week about the blossoming partnership between Branthwaite and James Tarkowski after the pair started their fourth Premier League game in a row in the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Goodison Park last weekend.
And Branthwaite, speaking to Sky Sports ahead of his side’s trip to Brentford, has opened up about his relationship with Dyche and also claimed that the more he plays, the better he will become.
He said: “This is the most challenging league, so to be performing at the level that I am, it’s been a good start for me
There’s lots of room to improve to get to the next level, which I’m working on, but that’ll come with a run of games and playing the same way that I am.
“It’s nice having a coach who knows your position, knows tips he can give you, but not only me but the team. We’ve been doing defensive work [in training], building that connection between the whole backline to help us perform better.
“Once we get more solid at the back, it makes it easier for the attackers as well, not having all the pressure on them to score.
“It’s not just the attackers that attack, it’s the defenders as well. Bringing that together, hopefully it happens at the weekend and can go on a run of good results.”
The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at PSV, whose manager was former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. Branthwaite impressed so much during his time in the Netherlands that the Eredivisie club were keen to sign him on a permanent basis.
Reflecting on his time at the Philips Stadion, Branthwaite said: “It was the best thing I could’ve done.
“It was the best move I’ve made, when you’re young you’ve just got to play games, at any level. Going over there was a big platform, a big stage, playing in Europe and things – and getting that solid game time continuously really helped me.
“After I spoke to my family and my agent, I said yes straight away because of the opportunity, what I could achieve over there and playing the games I did. I’ve grown as a person, more confident on and off the field.
“Moving to a different country, living on your own, you’ve got to learn new things and adapt to things, a new culture, a new language. It was a difficult start when I went over there, but it stood me in good stead to come back as a better person and player than I was when I left